Community Paramedic

Summary:

Under supervision of the Medical Director and Manager or designee following established policies and procedures performs the role of Community Paramedic including delivery of patient care training equipment use and maintenance and research efforts. Maintains clinical skills knowledge of literature in the field and outreach and training objectives.

Responsibilities:

PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Consistently applies the corporate values of respect honesty and fairness and the constant pursuit of excellence in improving the health status of the people of the region through the provision of customer-friendly geographically accessible and high-value services within the environment of a comprehensive integrated academic health system and physician foundation. Is responsible for knowing and acting in accordance with the principles of Rhode Island Hospital and Lifespan Corporate Compliance Program and Code of Conduct.

Functions alone and as a member of a healthcare team providing assessment and care to patients with chronic medical prenatal and behavioral problems. Identifies patients needs and assists in connecting patients with available community and medical resources. Performs in accordance with established community paramedicine procedures and techniques. Exercises considerable independent judgment in evaluating duties. Supports existing health services by providing integrated health services in partnership with other health professionals. Extends access to health services delivery in underserved and general populations including primary care public health disease management prevention and wellness. Assists in development of patient care protocols and methods. Participates in training curricula and research.

Conduct post hospital release follow-up care including but not limited to monitoring medications dressing changes and checking vital signs.

Observe record and report patientsconditions and reactions to drugs treatments and or significant incidences to physicians.

Conduct patient education including diabetes preventions and treatments hypertension congestive heart failure chronic obstructive pulmonary disease fall assessments injury evaluation Geriatric frailty visits supreme nail related treatments and nutrition.

Perform home safety evaluations.

Perform blood draws.

Utilize Point of Care testing and ultra sound.

Pickup and delivery some patient needs such as medications.

Receive referrals and schedule community paramedic visits.

Perform essential functions of a paramedic as appropriate.

Examine screen treat and coordinate health services for patients.

Ensures all community paramedic encounters are documented within the community paramedic protocols in both EMS ePCR and Epic hospital charting.

Maintain clear concise communication with patientsfamiliesphysicians and other healthcare personnel utilizing many forms of communication such as two way radios telephones and tell visits as available establish rapport with family members of patients or bystanders

Use various software programs including electronic health records and general office software.

prepare reports and logs observations incident and treatments performed document deviation from standard operating procedures ensure that deviations are in their best interests of the patient.

Attends required staff and educational meetings and remains current with literature pertaining to relevant program areas of interest.

Assists in writing presentations and papers for publications based on research performed and may present such findings at conferences.

Completes patient documentation (written and electronic) per Rhode Island Hospital and The Rhode Island Department of Health: Division of EMS. This documentation shall be completed in a timely fashion to expedite patient billing.

Performs public education marketing and outreach and maintains a cheerful positive attitude toward patients and families co-workers staff of other facilities and the public.

Maintains a clean operational environment.

Retrieves stocks and cleans medical equipment.

Reports to remote location(s) for duty. Responds to on-call to emergencies disasters and major incidents.

Performs data entry and clerical assistance. Assists with Emergency Department communications and dispatch at and for the communications center and other duties as assigned.

Other information:

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Current State of Rhode Island EMT-Paramedic license with a minimum of 1 year field EMS experience.

Current Paramedic certification through the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians.

Current ACLS BLS and PALS certifications (instructor status preferred). Maintains certifications as mandated by the position.

Valid and current drivers license with a clean driving record.

Bachelors degree in Biological Sciences Nursing or related field preferred.

Must be able to read speak legibly write and comprehend the English language without restriction.

Requires a working knowledge of statistics verbal and written English communications skills and computer use and research methodology.

Maintains positive communication (written and spoken) effectively while interfacing with fellow employees patients referring hospitals and the community at large.

Upholds and adheres to Lifespan policies and procedures.

Upholds safety standards as set by Rhode Island Hospital and The Rhode Island Department of Health.

Maintains clinical skill proficiency and knowledge base within scope of practice. This will include but not be limited to patient assessment history and physical; intra-osseous cannulation; medication dosing administration and maintenance; airway management non-invasive 12 lead ECG monitoring and interpretation; ventilator management. Skill maintenance may be performed at Rhode Island Hospital and other facilities under the supervision of the Medical Director or designee by attending courses or lectures through simulation or observational experience and in other ways as approved by the Medical Director and the manager. Perform other essential function of a paramedic or community paramedic.

Must be prepared for unrestricted travel in not only ambulances but also cars trucks boats airplanes and helicopters.

Demonstrated knowledge and skills necessary to provide care to patients with consideration of aging processes human development stages and cultural patterns in each step of the care process.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

Must be capable of performing in cramped quarters any type of weather condition and other risks including hazardous materials.

Must possess and maintain physical condition that allows running climbing and carrying of medical equipment and lifting of patients.

Able to stand erect from a squatting position while lifting 175 pounds between two people agility testing will be monitored annually.

Free of motion sickness or history thereof.

Free of physical ailment that may impair consciousness or cognitive ability.

Standing walking running and sitting.

Stooping kneeling crouching and crawling.

Running swimming balancing bending and twisting.

Lifting carrying pushing/pulling 100 lbs or more.

Handling grasping and fingering performing CPR utilizing patient lifting devices patient bandaging and other fine motor skills such as Intra-venous line insertion use of a scalpel etc.

Far vision for driving identifying landmarks (including corrected).

Near vision for reading/writing (including corrected).

Hearing adequate to converse in normal tones hear equipment sounds and alarms use radios and other communications devices and perform other job tasks (including corrected).

Visual color discrimination for identifying labels patient assessment read placards etc.

Dynamic Strength: climb stairs w/equipment and patients.

Explosive strength: run up stairs lifting escaping hazards.

Static strength: carry equipment; lift/carry patients.

Stamina: climb flights of stairs perform CPR for long periods.

EXPERIENCE:

One year experience in emergency medical care.

WORK ENVIRONMENT :

Variable environment including in and out-of-hospital emergency and non-emergency care situations that may include disaster situations with exposure to unknown substances and/or risks exposure to ill and injured patients and training environments. Research and training environment may include in and out-of-hospital clinical and medical simulation settings. Requires travel in vehicles including ambulances and aircraft including travel to conferences in other areas of the country. Enter unkept homes. Travel to high crime areas for patient care.

INDEPENDENT ACTION:

Performs independently within policies and practices and within protocols established by the physician medical director program director and other relevant authorities. Refers specific complex problems to the medical director and/or manger when clarification of the departmental policies and procedures is required.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY:

None.